NT Community and Public Sector Union secretary David Villegas speaks out on NT Government EBA deal
A key union is pushing back against changes that could make sacking public servants simpler. Read what’s changed.
Northern Territory public servants will push back against a government pay offer that could see them face instant dismissal in the event of an employee’s position being made redundant.
The NT Government’s latest Enterprise Bargaining Agreement offer removes the requirement for an employee to remain on the redeployment database for a period of two years after their job had been made redundant.
NT Community and Public Sector Union secretary David Villegas said if the offer was not revised, the union would recommend its members vote against the government’s EBA package.
The NT Government is offering a three per cent annual pay rise over four years to public servants.
With the last EBA expiring on Sunday, August 10, Mr Villegas called on the government to get serious in its negotiations with public servants.
He expected to tell government on behalf of the CPSU membership by late Tuesday that it was rejecting the offer.
The EBA is expected to cover about 14,000 administrative, technical, professional and physical stream NT public servants.
“We’ve been bargaining since February 19 and we put on the government’s agenda that our member priorities were pay, flexibility and job security,” Mr Villegas said.
“One of the first matters the government put on the table was the removal of the redeployment registrar and that’s been a major sticking point for our union in negotiations.
“The redeployment register is crucial for the protection of jobs in the public service. It’s a really generous provision that helps keep people working in the public service and encourages the NTPS to find people jobs in the public service where, for any reason, their job is no longer required.”
Mr Villegas said under the most recent EBA, a worker would first be offered voluntary retrenchment if their job was no longer available.
If that was unsuccessful, a worker would be offered six months notice or, if aged over 45 or with 20 years public service experience, offered 12-months notice.
“With the redeployment register, the worker has two years where they can find other work. It gives workers security and knowledge that they have two years to find other work with government’s help. It also a disincentive for a massive cut in jobs”.
Mr Villegas said the redundancy provisions afforded NT public servants job security not provided by common law.
“Removing the redeployment register gives the government too much power,” he said.
“It’s the only protection staff has at the moment because everything else can be changed.
“The legislation can be changed, the Public Sector Employment and Management Act can be changed, bylaws and determinations can be changed. The only thing the government can’t change is this redeployment register, which acts as a really strong disincentive stopping people from losing their jobs.”
The Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment has been contacted for comment.
